If you read the latest findings, ther is nothing wrong with MSG. If you look at the history of this ingredient and the false information that surrounded it in recent years, you will see that, except for the few people who have an allergy to it, it is completely safe. MSG's bad rap was a bit like what happened to the Susuki Samurai. Tracks were constructed to actually MAKE the car's wheels leave the road. There was no independedt evidence that the cars were unsafe. The vehicle was never recalled and it continued to sell well in other nations, but the damage in the US was already done. With MSG, "Chinese restaurant syndrome" was born after only one doctor coined the term, but there was never any scientific evidence to support it. Also, that fear of MSG in Chinese food is part of the U.S.’s long history of viewing the “exotic” cuisine of Asia as dangerous or dirty. As Sand put it: “It was the misfortune of Chinese cooks to be caught with the white powder by their stoves when the once-praised flavor enhancer suddenly became a chemical additive.”

Well that's great to hear. I'm a huge fan of the product..I'd even wear a Roman meal t-shirt or a baseball cap but you don't sell those (marketing again). I had just never encountered a situation where there was a great product out there and not be able to purchase it without traveling to another state..and I'm not just talking about your round top bread, You also made a wonderful multigrain bread, similar to Oroweat's Master's Best, but better. I haven't seen any of those specialty breads in my area. It's maddening to see them on the website but not be able to buy them.

As most of you sardine fans are aware, "sardines" can be one of many small fishes of the herring family. One of them, "sardinops sagax caerulea," or Pacific Sardine, was nearly fished out along the California coast in the 40's. Lately, however, they have made a comeback and a handful of environmentally friendly companies are canning these tasty fish again. One of them, "Wild Planet," is considered a best choice for sustainability by a consensus of environmental organizations. My favorite is their Wild Sardines in extra virgin olive oil. They are lightly smoked, meaty, firm and mild..and delicious.

My Father used to bring the litle bottles of Pace Picante Sauce back to us in Glendale, CA in the 60's when he traveled to San Antonio. The glass was thinner and the bottles often broke. He intruduced the sauce to a gourmet grocery store in Pasadena and the rest is history. You're the first person I've heard who remembers that the sauce used to be different. It was thinner for one thing and the sauce tasted fresher. I still use it though and add a little to my guacamole. It still tastes good on a slice of shrp cheddar too. Here in the Seattle area there are only a few good Mexican food restaurants. Every year or so I travel to Solana Beach, CA where I get my fix at Tony's Jacal, a family run restaurant that has been there since 1946.